Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

A twist on lemon meringue pie, these moist lemon cupcakes filled with creamy lemon curd and topped with a marshmallow-like meringue are perfect for a special dessert.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 255 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 large egg
• 5 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 large egg whites
• 0.5 cup milk
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup vegetable oil
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.75 cup white sugar
• 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 cup hot water
• 0.66666668653488 cup lemon juice
• 0.75 teaspoon lemon juice
• 3.5 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

Step 2

Combine lemon juice, eggs, sugar, and lemon zest for lemon curd in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a spatula or spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a sieve into a bowl. Stir in butter until melted; set aside.

Step 3

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt for cupcakes into a large bowl. Pour milk, oil, vanilla extract, and egg onto the dry mixture. Mix thoroughly with an electric mixer of by hand. Pour in hot water and mix to combine; batter will be thin. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin liners, filling about 3/4 full.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool, about 20 minutes.

Step 5

Core each cupcake using either a corer or a knife. Spoon in lemon curd.

Step 6

Pour sugar and egg whites into a large bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan or pot of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and egg whites are warm, to between 120 and 140 degrees F (49 to 60 degrees C) on a thermometer, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Step 7

Mix in lemon juice and whip at high speed until stiff peaks form. Pipe meringue onto the cupcakes.

Step 8

Place cupcakes under the preheated broiler until meringue has browned, about 2 minutes.

Step 9

Set an oven rack about 10 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.